Hours:
Monday–Thursday 8am to 5pm, Friday 8am to 4pm
About Us
Our Story
Tom built this firm based on his commitment to leaving a heritage for his own family, being a good steward of all that was entrusted to him.
While preserving financial resources was important, he also wanted to leave a record of all the things that he built his life on—his values, his faith and his personality.
A historian at heart (with an undergraduate History degree to prove it), Tom believes that we need to understand where we come from to guide us in the future.
Tom L. Culpepper
Managing Attorney
After spending the first half of his adult career working with a non-profit ministry, Tom went to the University of Dayton School of Law for a mid-career change. His values didn’t change, he simply wanted to apply his skills to a new arena.
Tom spent 5 years as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney handling juvenile crimes, obtaining child support for minors, or protecting children from abusive and neglectful parents. Tom founded Culpepper Law LLC in 2011 and focused increasingly, and now entirely, on comprehensive estate planning.
When not practicing law, Tom spends time with his most valuable assets—wife Wendi, and their three children. A former college baseball player, he has recently begun to learn golf and has found that the swings are nothing alike. He is an avid reader who admits he will never finish his book list because he is continually adding to it.
Jesse Kufeldt
Associate Attorney
We welcomed Jesse to Culpepper Law in August 2024, and he is focusing primarily on guiding clients through the intricacies of Medicaid and VA planning, as well as assisting clients through the Probate process. Originally from the Cincinnati area, Jesse did his undergrad at Anderson University in Indiana and then headed to Virginia to attend Regent University School of Law. He was a standout there on the Trial Advocacy Team, competing in several national Mock Trial competitions, including coaching Regent’s first-year law students to back-to-back wins.
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Beyond his legal career, Jesse enjoys exploring the outdoors through backpacking trips and biking. A former competitive swimmer and water polo player, he has also enjoyed coaching community swim teams in both Cincinnati and Norfolk. Jesse and his wife, Emily, welcomed their first child, Delora, in September 2024, and are excited about what the future holds for their growing family.
Patty Niswonger
Ohio Bar Certified Paralegal
Patty joined the team in 2020, but she is not new to estate planning. Originally from the Centerville area, Patty has worked for some of the strongest estate planning firms in the Dayton area over the last 15 years, and we are thrilled that she has joined our team! She is a paralegal member of the Ohio State Bar Association.
Our clients will recognize not only her legal expertise, but also the excellence with which she applies herself. Patty drafts estate planning documents and assists clients with the transfer of assets. Patty takes great pleasure in helping clients plan for their families and future. We are excited for you to meet her, and know that she will quickly earn your trust. She has been married to Mike for 25 years, loves music and cooking and is deeply devoted to her 4 legged loves.
Wendi Culpepper
Office Support
Although not always at the office, Wendi has been helping Tom with the office since its beginning. After a few years in retail management (any HomeGoods lovers out there?), she began officially working in the back office for the firm. She spends time on marketing efforts, hiring our amazing team members, and all the miscellaneous things that keep the office running.